"In Celebration" has a buildup that is very reminiscent of a Pinter play. Three sons go home to join their parents in Yorkshire for their 40th anniversary, and one of them (Alan Bates, excellent as usual) is an aggressive, angry instigator who isn't afraid to pull skeletons out of the closet. As the family members continue to interact with each other there are bits and pieces of history that are presented like red herrings (the questionable death of a child, another son whose plagued by nightmares of growing up are just two examples) and the film's 131 minute talky and heated running time seems to be building to a major confrontation.
Instead, it doesn't. No secrets are revealed, everyone goes back to playing their roles, says goodbye, and the film is over.
Like most of Anderson's films, I thought "In Celebration" was beautifully performed, but the ending (or lack of) made me seriously wonder what the point was. I grew up watching Anderson's films and consider him to be one of the our finest directors, but this effort was a major disappointment to me.
Instead, it doesn't. No secrets are revealed, everyone goes back to playing their roles, says goodbye, and the film is over.
Like most of Anderson's films, I thought "In Celebration" was beautifully performed, but the ending (or lack of) made me seriously wonder what the point was. I grew up watching Anderson's films and consider him to be one of the our finest directors, but this effort was a major disappointment to me.